Thank You Card Etiquette

The presents have been exchanged and opened with accompanying oohs and aahs. But what if the gift giver and recipient were miles apart when the presents were opened? Sending thank you cards is the least you can do to show your appreciation for the thought and effort that went into selecting and sending that gift. Thank you cards are also appropriate for expressing your gratitude for an overnight visit or hosted event.

Here are a few points of etiquette when writing your Thank You Cards.

1) Send your thank you cards as soon as possible following the event or opening of presents. Thank you cards not only send your thanks but also let the person know that their gift was received.

2) Reference the particular gift in your thank you notes so that you are clearly thanking the giver for the gift they sent. The only exception would be in the gift was cash. Do not state the amount; instead thank them for their generosity or kindness.

3) Even if the gift is not something you necessarily wanted or will quite possibly never even use, there must be something nice you can find to say about the selection before you donate it to charity.

4) If thanking someone for hosting a party you attended, mention something you found especially noteworthy. Maybe you enjoyed the table centerpiece or the selection of music played in the background. The same should apply if you were an overnight guest. Find something specific to express thanks for beside the obvious.

5) A thank you note can be informal and does not have to be lengthy. Just by sending one in the first place says much in the way of appreciation. Do remember to be sincere in expressing your thanks.

6) Business Thank You Cards are a great way to remind customers that they are valued. This form of direct mail is sure to be warmly appreciated and rewarded with repeat business.

6) Often the best thank you cards are those that are unexpected. Maybe you just want to send one to say, "Thank you for being my friend."

Always in good taste, Graduation Thank You Cards, Business Thank You Referral Cards, or any simple Thank You Cards with brief expressions of gratitude show that you have good manners. And, although it should not be a factor, a show of appreciation in the form of a written thank you goes a long way towards the possibility of being remembered again in the future.